K. C.

Keeler

Head Coach

Alma Mater:
Delaware

Graduating Year:
1981

Career Statistics &dtrif;&rtrif;

Bio

2016 EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD WINNER

In four seasons as head coach at Sam Houston State University, K.C. Keeler has directed the Bearkats to a 46-12 record that includes eight victories over top-10 ranked opponents and nine wins in NCAA post-season action. His SHSU teams have made the playoffs in each of his four seasons at the helm, including FCS semifinals appearances in 2014, 2015 and 2017 along with a pair of Southland Conference championships.

In 2016 he led the Bearkats to their second conference title in three seasons and a national No. 1 ranking for the final six weeks of the regular season on their way to being the nation's lone unbeaten team entering the FCS playoffs. That run helped him become the first Bearkat coach to claim the Eddie Robinson Award as the top head coach in the FCS in a season that also saw Sam Houston's quarterback, Jeremiah Briscoe, earn the Walter Payton Award as the nation's top offensive player.

During 24 years as a head football coach, Keeler has produced a record of 220 victories, only 85 losses and one tie. His teams at Rowan University, Delaware and Sam Houston State have combined for 15 NCAA post-season playoff appearances, nine conference championships and played in eight national championship games.

Keeler was named as Sam Houston's 15th head football coach on January 23, 2014. He has coached nine National Football League draft picks including Super Bowl XLVII MVP quarterback Joe Flacco and 2018 second-round pick PJ Hall. He has tutored 76 All-America players and 21 student-athletes who have earned either national or district CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.

As head coach at Delaware, Keeler rolled up an 86-52 record in 11 seasons from 2002 to 2012. His Fightin' Blue Hens won the FCS national championship in 2003 and reached the national championship game in 2007 and 2010. His squads won Atlantic 10 Conference titles in 2003 and 2004 and the Colonial Athletic Association championship in 2010. Delaware went 11-3 in the program's four trips to the FCS playoffs.

At Rowan University in Glassboro, N. J., Keeler produced an 88-21-1 record from 1993 to 2001 that included seven NCAA Division III playoff appearances including five trips to the National Championship game. His teams posted a 21-7 record in NCAA Division III playoff action.

Among Keeler's coaching honors are selections as AFCA FCS National Coach of the Year, Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year, Maxwell Club Tri-State Coach of the Year and the All-America Football Foundation Johnny Vaught Head Coach Award.

Keeler began his coaching career as an assistant at Amherst College in Massachusetts in 1981, then moved to Rowan University in 1986. He was named head coach at Rowan in 1993.

The Profs won four New Jersey Athletic Conference championships and finished as runner-up in the league twice in Keeler's nine seasons.

Keeler was a four-sport letterman at Emmaus, Pa., High School. He earned all-league honors and was football team captain as a tight end and linebacker.

He played linebacker for head coach Tubby Raymond at Delaware from 1978 to 1980, helping lead the Blue Hens to the 1979 NCAA Division II national championship. In 1980, he signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kurt Charles “K. C.” Keeler was born July 26, 1959, in Emmaus, Pa. He and his wife Janice are the parents of daughter Kate and son Jackson.

• He claimed the Eddie Robinson Award as the top coach in the FCS for the first time in 2016, becoming the first Bearkat head coach and third in the history of the Southland Conference to win the award

• He earned his 200th career win in 2016, making him the 12th youngest and ninth fastest head coach to get to that mark in college football history

• Only head football coach ever to take three different programs to semi-final appearances in NCAA post-season action

• Won 41, Lost 14 in NCAA post-season playoff games (20-7 in FCS playoffs)

• Most National Championship game appearances of any current football coach (8), the second most in college football history